This prayer was the Pastoral Prayer on July 5th, 2020.

Father God in heaven, we know your eyes are on us and your ears are open to our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). We thank you that you have spoken to us from your Word. We thank you Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross, now freeing us to have eternal access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). As we come to you today in prayer, Lord forgive us our sins and restore in our souls the joy of your salvation (1 John 1:9; Psalm 51).

Today, we want to thank you for our country and we thank you for the freedoms we have has Americans. We come before you to specifically prayer for our country. We pray that you will bless our nation but Lord, we are heart broken by the wickedness seen throughout our country. Our nation has forgotten you (Psalm 9:17). We ask Lord that you will send a Gospel awakening in every corner of the United States. We long to see all the ends of the earth turn to Jesus and all the families of our country worship you (Psalm 22:27). We long to see the gospel of your kingdom proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to the nations (Matthew 24:14).

We know that you Lord have established our government and every governmental system on this earth and the authority they have is ordained by you and you alone (John 19:11; Romans 13:1). We know that you use governments, even those that are wicked, to accomplish your will on this earth (Jeremiah 25:8-9; Acts 4:27-28). Help us to submit to their leadership, to honor them, and to remember that you are in control over them.

You’ve commanded us to pray for our elected officials (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and today, we pray for President Trump that you will give him the wisdom to lead our country well. We pray for Vice President Pence as he leads the Coronavirus Task Force that you will give him wisdom to make decisions that are best for the people of our country. We prayer for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that they will lead their respective chambers in unity and for the good of our nation and not their personal agendas. We pray for every Senator and Representative to represent their districts and states well. We pray for Governor Desantis and the decisions he is making for our state, both economically and physically. We pray for our local officials that you will give them rest and peace in all that they do. We ask that you help us to stay united and to not let our various political opinions divide your church (John 17:21).

Father, remind us today that this world is not our eternal home; we are citizens of your Kingdom and we are eagerly awaiting for your Son Jesus to return. He will take our weak moral bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control (Philippians 3:20-21). We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of your possession and you have called us to proclaim the excellencies of your grace that has called us out of darkness and into marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9-10). Help us to trust in you, not in chariots or politicians, or government policies. Help us to trust in you and you alone (Psalm 20:7).

Holy Spirit we ask you to empower us to be ambassadors for Christ and to take the message of Christ and the freedom from sin that can be found in him to the nations (2 Corinthians 5:20). Because Lord we know, that soon, All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name (Psalm 86:9). Every knee will bow and tongue confess that you are the sovereign King over all (Philippians 2:10). Help us to see that the only hope for our country is the gospel of Jesus Christ for the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish (Isaiah 60:18). You Lord are King over all the earth; may we live as representatives of your Kingdom.

In your name we pray today, Amen.